ENV SCI FINAL

Tundra

Climate: Extremely cold, long winters; Short, cool summers; Very low precipitation (like a cold desert). Soil: Permafrost (frozen ground); Poor drainage and low nutrients.

Tundra Adaptations

Plants grow low to the ground (to avoid wind). Animals have thick fur, fat layers, and often migrate.

Tundra Major Issues

Warming temperatures are melting permafrost → releases methane; Habitat loss for caribou, polar bears, and arctic foxes; Erosion increases as frozen soil thaws.

Taiga (Boreal Forest)

Climate: Cold, long winters; Moderate summers; More precipitation than tundra. Soil: Acidic & nutrient-poor; Slow decomposition due to cold.

Taiga Adaptations

Evergreen trees (spruce, fir) with needle leaves to conserve water. Animals hibernate or have thick fur.

Taiga Major Issues

Logging and deforestation; Increased wildfires from climate change; Loss of habitat for wolves, moose, lynx.

Tropical Rainforest

Climate: Warm year-round; Very high rainfall; No real seasons. Soil: Nutrient-poor because nutrients cycle rapidly; Soil is thin and easily eroded when trees are removed.

Tropical Rainforest Adaptations

Drip-tip leaves, large leaves, shallow roots. Animals adapted for canopy living (monkeys, frogs, birds).

Tropical Rainforest Major Issues

Rapid deforestation for agriculture (palm oil, cattle); Loss of biodiversity (most diverse biome on Earth); Climate change and habitat fragmentation.

Temperate Forest (Deciduous Forest)

Climate: Four seasons; Moderate rainfall; Warm summers, cold winters. Soil: Rich, fertile, lots of leaf litter.

Temperate Forest Adaptations

Trees lose leaves in winter to conserve water. Animals use seasonal strategies — hibernation, food storage.

Temperate Forest Major Issues

Urbanization and habitat fragmentation; Invasive species; Pollution affecting soil and water.

Grassland (Temperate Grassland / Prairie / Steppe)

Climate: Moderate rainfall (not enough for many trees); Hot summers, cold winters; Often windy. Soil: Some of the most fertile soil on Earth; Deep, nutrient-rich topsoil.

Grassland Adaptations

Grasses with deep roots survive fires and grazing. Animals like bison, antelope, and prairie dogs adapted to open land.

Grassland Major Issues

Soil erosion from agriculture; Overgrazing; Conversion to farmland.

Savanna (Tropical Grassland)

Climate: Warm year-round; Has a rainy season and a long dry season; Frequent fires. Soil: Fairly fertile but nutrient-limited in dry season.

Savanna Adaptations

Grasses survive fire; trees spaced out to reduce competition. Animals migrate for water (zebras, elephants).

Savanna Major Issues

Poaching and habitat loss; Desertification from overgrazing; Climate change altering rainfall patterns.

Desert

Climate: Very low rainfall; Can be hot (Sahara) or cold (Gobi); High temperature fluctuations day vs. night. Soil: Dry, sandy, low organic matter.

Desert Adaptations

Plants: thick stems, spines, shallow widespread roots (cacti). Animals: nocturnal, conserve water (reptiles, rodents).

Desert Major Issues

Desertification due to climate change and poor farming practices; Water scarcity; Off-road vehicles damaging fragile soil crust.

Chaparral

Climate: Hot, dry summers; Mild, wet winters; Mediterranean climate (California, Mediterranean basin). Soil: Thin, nutrient-poor; Prone to erosion.

Chaparral Adaptations

Plants have waxy leaves, deep roots, fire-resistant seeds. Animals adapted to heat (cougars, coyotes, jackrabbits).

Chaparral Major Issues

Increasing wildfires due to hotter, drier climates; Human development in fire-prone areas; Habitat fragmentation.

Marine Ecosystems (Oceans)

Climate: Covers 70% of Earth; Temperature varies with depth and location; Stable compared to land biomes.

Marine Ecosystems Zones

Intertidal, coastal, open ocean, deep ocean, coral reefs.

Marine Ecosystems Adaptations

Animals adapted to pressure, light levels, and salinity. Plants (algae, seagrass) adapted to saltwater and sun penetration.

Marine Ecosystems Major Issues

Coral bleaching from warming waters; Overfishing and bycatch; Plastic pollution and microplastics; Acidification due to CO₂ absorption.

What are the biggest uses of freshwater?

The three biggest uses of freshwater are agriculture, industry, and domestic use.

Why do floods cause more destruction than in past years?

Floods are more destructive now due to climate change and land-use changes.

What are potential impacts of removing groundwater?

Removing too much groundwater causes land subsidence, lower water tables, saltwater intrusion, reduced surface water, and habitat loss.

Why do dead zones occur?

Dead zones form due to eutrophication, which is when excess nutrients cause algae blooms that deplete oxygen.

What are the different types of water pollution?

Types include nutrient pollution, pathogen pollution, chemical/toxic pollution, sediment pollution, thermal pollution, plastic/microplastic pollution, and oil pollution.

Why is discharge and leaking septic water dangerous for lagoon systems?

Leaking septic water releases excess nutrients, chemicals, low-oxygen conditions, and harmful bacteria.

What does B.M.P. stand for?

Best Management Practices.

What are the issues the Indian River Lagoon has?

Issues include algal blooms, massive seagrass loss, manatee die-offs, stormwater pollution, leaking septic tanks, fish kills, and microplastics.

What is water redirection?

Water redirection is when humans change natural water flow using dams, canals, pipes, or levees.

Why are seagrass beds important?

Seagrass beds provide food, stabilize sediments, offer nursery habitats, produce oxygen, and support biodiversity.

How much fresh water vs how easily accessed is water for humans?

2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater, but less than 1% is easily accessible.

What is potable fresh water?

Potable fresh water is water that is safe to drink.

Why is clay important for planting?

Clay particles attract positively charged nutrients, helping soil hold nutrients.

Why are animals a terrible food source for organisms going up the food chain ecologically?

Only 10% of energy passes from one trophic level to the next, making higher trophic levels less efficient.

What are the major differences between urban and rural jobs?

Urban areas have more job diversity compared to rural areas.

How is the human population calculated?

Population = births - deaths + immigration - emigration.

What is the total fertility rate?

The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.

What is carrying capacity?

The maximum population an ecosystem can support indefinitely, calculated based on food supply, water availability, habitat space, resource limits, and competition.

What is the difference between biomagnification and bioaccumulation?

Bioaccumulation is the buildup of toxins in one organism over its lifetime, while biomagnification is the increase of toxin levels at each food chain level.

What does LD-50 stand for?

LD-50 (Lethal Dose 50%) is the amount of a substance needed to kill 50% of a testing population.

Why are polio and measles reappearing?

Due to lower vaccination rates, misinformation about vaccines, global travel, and decreased herd immunity.

What health issues arise from relying more on cars?

Obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, poor cardiovascular health, joint problems, and higher exposure to air pollution.

What characteristics define each biome?

Biomes are defined by climate (temperature + precipitation), soil type, seasonality, animal adaptations, and overall productivity.

What are the major biomes?

Tundra, taiga, tropical rainforest, temperate forest, grassland, savanna, desert, chaparral, and marine ecosystems.

What issues do biomes face?

Deforestation, desertification, coral bleaching, species loss, melting permafrost, and water scarcity.

What are the three types of coral reefs?

Fringing reefs (along the coastline), barrier reefs (separated from shore by a lagoon), and atolls (ring-shaped over a submerged volcano).

How do fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs form?

Fringing reefs grow outward from shore, barrier reefs form as sea levels rise, and atolls form when volcanoes sink.

What are wildfires?

Uncontrolled fires in natural areas that spread quickly due to dry vegetation, heat, drought, wind, and fuel buildup.

What are the most productive ecosystems?

Marshes/wetlands (most productive), agricultural land (moderate), and open ocean (least productive per area).

What are the types of symbiotic relationships?

Mutualism (both benefit), parasitism (one benefits, one is harmed), and commensalism (one benefits, the other is unaffected).

What is natural selection?

The process where organisms with better adaptations survive and reproduce more, passing on advantageous traits.

What is the difference between evolution and coevolution?

Evolution is general change due to natural selection, while coevolution is when two species evolve in response to each other.

What are open vs closed systems?

Open systems exchange matter and energy (ecosystems), while closed systems exchange only energy (Earth is nearly closed for matter).

What are trophic levels?

Levels showing energy flow through ecosystems: Producers → herbivores → carnivores → top predators.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

When people overuse a shared resource for personal gain, leading to depletion for everyone.

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Convergent (plates collide), divergent (plates move apart), and transform (plates slide past each other).

What is subduction?

When a denser plate sinks beneath a lighter plate at a convergent boundary, creating trenches and volcanoes.

What are species, population, communities, landscapes, biotic vs abiotic?

Species: interbreeding organisms; Population: same species in an area; Community: different species interacting; Landscape: multiple ecosystems; Biotic: living components; Abiotic: nonliving components.

What is primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession starts on bare rock with no soil, while secondary succession occurs after disturbance but soil remains.

What is species richness?

The number of different species in an ecosystem.

What are keystone species?

Species that play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem stability.

What is species evenness?

How evenly individuals are spread across species; high evenness means no species dominates.